Chapter 51: The Result of the Contest (3)

Swish...

In the next moment, another flash of cold light and a burst of blood filled the air. Xiao Long's other arm was severed in an instant, separating from his body.

"Hmph. You lost, yet you tried to frame me and even attempted to kill me? Do you even know the meaning of the word 'death'?" Hunter Liu sneered coldly at Xiao Long, who had collapsed in pain on the ground. Without hesitation, he raised his blade and aimed it directly at Xiao Long's chest.

"How dare you! Killing a member of my Qingshan Gang in front of me? You're courting death!"

An enraged voice rang out as Song Lei's figure shot forward, his palm striking toward Hunter Liu's head. The force of his attack whipped up a fierce gust of wind, and a powerful aura spread through the room.

"Song Lei, how dare you make a move in front of me? Are you disregarding me, a Nascent Star realm martial artist?"

At that moment, an overwhelming presence suddenly appeared in front of Hunter Liu, creating a protective energy barrier that shielded him completely.

Bang!

Song Lei's palm slammed into the energy barrier, but the immense force only caused the barrier to ripple slightly.

Squelch...

Simultaneously, Hunter Liu's blade plunged straight into Xiao Long's chest, piercing his heart and killing him instantly.

Shu Sheng stepped forward leisurely, glancing down at Xiao Long's lifeless body before looking at Hunter Liu. He shook his head slightly, a hint of exasperation in his expression.

Soon after, Shu Sheng turned to Song Lei, who had halted his attack. "Song Lei, you're merely the leader of a mid-tier gang, and yet you dared to act in my presence? Even though you've allied with the Skull Gang, do you believe I couldn't force you and your Qingshan Gang out of Poyang City right now?"

Song Lei's expression darkened, his eyes flashing with suppressed anger. However, facing Shu Sheng, a powerful Nascent Star realm expert, he dared not refute him.

"Such authority, City Lord Shu. I'm impressed," Zhou Longqi said as he stepped forward, his face extremely grim. "It's true that Xiao Long was a bit impulsive, but that kid killed him outright. Isn't that a blatant disregard for us? If he isn't punished, he'll never learn the rules of Poyang City."

Zhou Longqi's cold gaze locked onto Hunter Liu as his mind churned with thoughts of how to deal with him.

Hunter Liu returned Zhou Longqi's gaze fearlessly. Although he knew Zhou Longqi wanted him dead and was likely plotting against him at this very moment, Hunter Liu said nothing. Words were meaningless at this point. Only strength could truly resolve the matter—enough strength to kill Zhou Longqi outright.

"Chief Zhou, he is now a member of the Luohong Gang. I don't believe it's your place to punish him," Shu Sheng said with a faint smile. He then turned to Song Lei and added coldly, "Song Lei, a true gambler accepts their losses. Your wager included five inns and a gambling hall. You have three days to hand over the deeds to Hong Feiqiu. If you delay, I'll personally intervene. And trust me, you'll end up giving even more than that."

Shu Sheng's cold sneer conveyed utter disdain for Zhou Longqi and his allies.

"Hmph!" Zhou Longqi snorted angrily. His plan to humiliate Shu Sheng had backfired, leaving him with nothing but shame. He shot a cold glare at Hunter Liu before turning to leave the Changhong Inn.

"Chief! Something terrible has happened!"

Suddenly, a panicked voice called out from outside the inn. Moments later, a figure stumbled in hurriedly. The man, clearly flustered, rushed toward Zhou Longqi, tripping over the threshold in his haste. "Chief, something terrible has happened!"

"What's the matter? Speak when we return to headquarters! Stop embarrassing yourself like this!"

Zhou Longqi, already in a foul mood, was infuriated by the sight of his subordinate's panic. His frustration only deepened as he felt the man was tarnishing his reputation.

"Chief, it's not just bad—it's catastrophic!" the man replied, his voice trembling with urgency. Seeing Zhou Longqi's refusal to listen, he gritted his teeth and blurted out, "The deputy chief... he's been killed!"

"Which deputy chief?" Zhou Longqi froze, then turned to glare at the man, his tone icy.

The subordinate, visibly terrified, stammered as Zhou Longqi's intense gaze bore into him. "It... it's Deputy Chief Zhou Longyun... your younger brother."

"What did you say? Repeat that!"

Suddenly, an overpowering wave of malevolence erupted from Zhou Longqi's body, filling the room like a tidal wave. The oppressive aura chilled everyone to the bone, sending shivers through their spines as they felt a deep, suffocating cold.